Ignition switch



Oct. 5, 1937. P. D. METCALF IGNITION SWITCH Filed July 5l, 1936 E' W' yfwm.

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 5, 1937V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l IGNrrioN SWITCH Perley D. Metcalf, Zanesville, Ohio Application July 31,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to ignition switches for motor vehicles and has for the primary object the provision of an eflicient and inexpensive device of this character which will eliminate the 5 use of keys and will materially reduce vehicle theft and has means whereby the ignition circuit when closed by this device may be easily and quickly opened and closed through an auxiliary means.

10 With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel features of conv struction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view showing my invention connected in an ignition circuit for a motor vehicle.

Figure 2 is a front elevation illustrating the mounting of my invention on an instrument board of a motorvehicle.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2.-

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral I indicates a conventional ignition system employed upon a, motor vehicle and it is not thought necessary to describe this system specifically. The system has connected therein terminal posts 2 and 3 forming part of the present invention. The terminal posts are mounted in and insulated from a casing 4 and the latter is suitably mounted to an instrument board 5 of a motor vehicle. The terminal post 3 includes a contact 6 and a contact 1 is mounted in and insulated from the casing and has pivoted thereto a exible contact element 8 normally urged away from the contact 6 by a spring 9. The contact 1 includes a bifurcated portion I to be engaged by an auxiliary knife type switch I I pivoted to the terminal post 2 and is provided with a pin I2 operatingin a 1936, serial No. 93,722

slot formed in the casing. The pin has secured thereto a finger piece I4 arranged exteriorly of the casing.

Carried by the casing is a combination lock I of alconventional construction including' a plunger E6 which bears against the contact element 8.

In operation, to close the ignition system, the combination lock is actuated in the usual manner bringing about movement of the plunger I6 which forces the contact element 3 into engagement with the contact 6. Also the switch element II is moved into engagement with the bifurcated portion I0 of the contact 1 thereby completing the ignition circuit without the use of a key. However, should it be desired to break the circuit of the ignition system without the actuation of the combination lock the finger piece I4 is moved into engagement with a bifurcated keeper. The circuit remains broken until the switch velement I I is brought in engagement with the bifurcated portion I0 of the contact 1. When it is desired to leave the automobile unattended for any length of time the combination lock is actuated to impart movement to the plunger I6 so that the spring 9 may act .to force the contact element 8 away from the contact 6.

Having described the invention, I claim:

An ignition switch comprising a casing, terminals mounted in and insulated from said casing and electrically connected in an ignition system for interrupting the latter, a contact forming a Vpart of one of the terminals, a second contact located in and insulated from the casing, a spring pressed contact element pivoted to the secondnamed contact and self-positioning away from the first-named contact, a combination lock carried by said casing for moving the contact element into engagement with the rst-named contact, and an auxiliary switch operable from. the outside of the casing and connected to the other terminal and engageable with the second-named contact.

PERLEY D. METCALF. 

